Men’s athletics
Jeremiyah Love, junior running back, Notre Dame football
Male Athlete of the Year
A Heisman Trophy finalist and consensus All-American, Love cemented himself among the Notre Dame all-time greats with a 2025 season of 21 touchdowns and 1,652 yards. He recently became the highest-paid running back in NFL history after the Arizona Cardinals selected him third overall in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Joey Garwood, junior guard, Holy Cross basketball
An explosive guard from right down the road in Elkhart, Ind., Garwood led the Saints with nearly 22 PPG on efficient 54/45/87 shooting splits. The dynamic scorer upped his game as the year progressed, eclipsing the 30-point mark three times in February.
Ahmed Hesham, sophomore saber, Notre Dame fencing
After being named a First Team All-American as a freshman, Hesham had continued success in his sophomore campaign. He claimed the individual sabre national title, helping Notre Dame capture its 16th team national championship.
Tommy Janton, senior fly/back/free, Notre Dame swimming & diving
U.S. National Team member and five-time All-American Janton turned in his best season as a senior. He set school records in the 50-yard back, 200-yard back, 100-meter back, 200-meter back, 400-yard medley relay and 400-yard free relay en route to qualifying for the 2026 NCAA Championships.
Blake Kelly, sophomore goalkeeper, Notre Dame soccer
Kelly started all 20 games for the Irish in 2025, recording 71 saves and six clean sheets. The sophomore stood on his head in the first round of the NCAA tournament, tallying eight saves to blank the Michigan Wolverines in a 1-0 Irish win.
Nick Kempf, sophomore goaltender, Notre Dame hockey
The sophomore goalie broke out as one of the nation’s best netminders in 2025-2026. In 34 starts, Kempf recorded nearly 1,000 saves for an outstanding save rate of 89.3%.
Shawn Lyght, junior defenseman, Notre Dame lacrosse
The son of Notre Dame football national champion Todd Lyght, Shawn has made a name for himself anchoring the nation’s best defense. A two-time All-American already, the junior was recently named as the first defenseman finalist for the Tewaaraton Award since 2016.
Leonard Moore, sophomore cornerback, Notre Dame football
A unanimous All-American, Moore was also a finalist for both the Jim Thorpe Award and the Bronko Nagurski Award. He led the Irish with five interceptions, including two and a forced fumble against Boise State, as well as a pick-six in the November romp of Syracuse.
Ben Pable, graduate thrower, Notre Dame track and field
The Dartmouth transfer capitalized on his lone year with Notre Dame. After setting a personal best in weight throw with nearly 20 meters, Pable was named a Second Team All-American.
Jack Radel, junior pitcher, Notre Dame baseball
The right-hander has emerged as Notre Dame’s true Friday night ace in 2026. A 7-2 record, 3.18 ERA and over 100 strikeouts have earned the junior ACC Pitcher of the Week honors twice this spring.
Women’s sports
Hannah Hidalgo, junior guard, Notre Dame basketball
Female Athlete of the Year
The ACC Player of the Year and National Defensive Player of the Year was Notre Dame’s sparkplug and emotional leader on both ends of the court. In a Sweet 16 victory over Vanderbilt to send the Irish to their first Elite Eight since 2019, the junior guard recorded a near quadruple-double of 31 points, 11 rebounds, 10 steals and seven assists.
Annabelle Chukwu, sophomore forward, Notre Dame soccer
The forward emerged as one of the best goal scorers in college soccer, earning First Team All-ACC recognition. Chukwu scored 12 goals on the campaign, none bigger than her 88th-minute winner to propel Notre Dame over Duke and into the ACC championship game.
Mary Bonner Dalton, sophomore distance, Notre Dame cross country
The sophomore from Charlotte, N.C., set a PR to finish second at the ACC championships on Halloween. She followed that up by finishing in the top 10 at the NCAA championships in November to earn All-American honors.
Izzy Engle, sophomore forward, Notre Dame soccer
The second part of Notre Dame soccer’s sophomore goal-scoring tandem, Engle outdid her incredible freshman year to earn the ACC Offensive Player of the Year award. A Mac Hermann Trophy finalist, the sophomore was fifth nationally in both goals scored (19) and total points (44).
Mia Johnson, freshman forward, Saint Mary’s soccer
Another standout on the pitch, Johnson’s freshman ascension helped the Belles to win their first five matches of 2025. She tallied seven goals in those five wins, eventually ending the season with a team-high of 12.
Bianca Molnar, sophomore No. 1 singles and doubles, Notre Dame tennis
Molnar elevated her game in 2026 to help Notre Dame reach the NCAA tournament once again. The sophomore finished the year ranked 70th nationally in singles play and 45th in doubles for the No. 35 Irish.
Eszter Muhari, senior epee, Notre Dame fencing
The senior from Hungary continued her dominance in epee this season. After capturing the individual crown in 2025, she repeated in 2026 and helped the Notre Dame women’s team capture the team national championship.
Madison Rassas, sophomore midfielder, Notre Dame lacrosse
The former No. 1 overall recruit overcame injuries as a freshman to earn First Team All-ACC recognition this season. The midfielder scored 54 goals and added 12 assists to help Notre Dame return to the NCAA tournament.
Kate Timarky, junior attacker, Notre Dame lacrosse
Timarky joined Rassas up top to spearhead Notre Dame’s high-octane attack. She tied for the team lead with 54 goals and also added 16 assists en route to being named a Tewaaraton Award finalist.
Ava Zachary, freshman third base, Notre Dame softball
The Mishawaka, Ind., native had a standout freshman campaign, earning Second Team All-ACC following the season. A stalwart at the hot corner, Zachary ended the year with a batting average of .406 and an OPS of over 1.000.
